Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-10


~ have some" said Flora. 1 have pound
"My dear Flora y returned Alexander, ga pound
note won't see US very far and besides, this is my
, priSed II IL isn't my father who pays for It."
ssu H9s apply to hin YET do not think
You have very Imperfect idea OF my resources
ana a none at all Of my erontery," replied Aexan-
He put John from his way. chose a stout knife
Quickness broke into his fathers drawer.
"Ihere! nothing easier when you come to try"
no observed, pOcketfng the money
~ wish you had not done that" said Flora.
"You will never hear the last OF it.
..rSO, l don't know" returned the young man.
John, let me see your famous pass-key. Get into
bed and don't move for any one till come back.
knock; generally don't myself" "'1 '''
CHAPTER TX.
IN WHICH Mr.. NICHOLSON ACCEPTS THE PRINCIPLE
OF AN ALLOWANCE.
In spite OF the horrors OF the day and the tea
drinking of the night John slept the sleep Of in
fancy. He was awakened by the maid, as it might
have been ten years ago, tapping at the door, The
winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the
window was to the back OF the house, IL shone into
the room with many strange colors OF refracted
ugnt without the houses were all Clearly rooted
with snow; the garden walls were COPIED with 1t a
foot In height; the greens lay gitter1ng. Yet,
|
years upon the Bay OF San Francisco, It was what
he saw within that most affected him. For 1t was
| to his own room that Alexander had been pro-
NOTED; there was the old paper with the device Of
| flowers, in which a cunning fancy might yet de-
tect the face OF Skinny Jim, of the Academy Johns
former dominic; there was the old chest OF draw
ers; there were the charS-One, two, three-three
as before. Only the carpet was new and the litter
of Alexander's clothes and books and drawing ma
Din Johns eyes, appeared a marvel Of proficiency
He was thus lying, and looking, and dreaming,
hanging, as 1t were, between two epOchs OF his
life, when Alexander came to the door, and made
| his presence known in loud whisper. John let
| him In, and jumped back into the warm bed.
"Well, John, said Alexander, "the cabegram is
sent in your name, and twenty words OF answer
paid. have been to the cab office and paid your
| cab, even saw the old gentleman himself, and
and Indicated his belief you had been drinking
Then knocked up old Macewen out OF bed, and
explained affairs TO him as he sat and shivered In
dreSSing-g0wn. And before that had been TO
the High street. where they have heard nothing Of
| you dreamed it,"
"Catch met" said John.
"Well, the police never do know anything" as
sented Alexander; "and at any rate. they have
trousers and your money, so that really your bill
Is now fairly clean; and see but one lion In your
path.the governor
diSmaly.
al don't imagine So" returned the other; mot IL
you do what Flora and have arranged; and your
business now Is TO dress, and lose no time about it.
| Is your watch rtghts Well you have quarter OF
| an hour. By i've minutes before the half-hour
uncle Duthle's picture. Flora will be there to
shall see" ''''''
wouldn't it be wiser for me to stay in bed9'
said John.
'.Ir you mean to manage your own concerns,
you you can can. 90 precisely what you like replied
Alexander; 'but II you are not In your place 1--WE
minutes before the half-hour wash my hands Of
you, for one"
/
warmly, but the truth is his heart was somewhat
troubled. And as he hung over the banisters
watching FOR his father to appear he had hard ado
oesp himself Oraos0 for the encounter that must
If he takes 1t well shall be lucky, he reflected.
III he takes 1t Ill why it'll be herring across
johns tracks, and perhaps all for the best He's
coniounded mum, this brother Of mine; but he
seems decent soul"
emphasis and Mr. Nicholson was seen solemnly to
descend the stairs and pass into his own apart
| ment. Alexander followed, quaklng inwardly, but
enter, and found his father standing In front OF
the forced drawer, to which he pointed as he
| spoke.
"This is most extraordinary thing" he said.
"a have been robbed"
81 was afraid you would notice it." observed his
| SON. at made such beastly hash or the table"
"lou were afraid would notice 1T" repeated
Mr. Nicholson. "And pray what may that mean?D
THAT was the thief, sir" returned Alexander,
81 took all the money In case the servants Should
get hold OF IT. and here is the change, and note
| OF my expenditure. You were gone TO bed you see
and did not feel at liberty to knock you up; but
think when you have heard the circumstances
you will do me justice. The fact is have reason
TO believe that there has been some dreadful error
about my brother John, the sooner IL could be
cleared upthe better for ali parties 1t was piece
OF business, Sir, and so took IL; and decided on
my own responsibility, to send a telegram to San
Francisco. Thanks to my qu1ckness we may hear
tonight. There appears to be no doubt, sir, that
John has been abominably used"
"When did this take placer" asked the father
a
dts most extraordinary said Mr.. Nicholson.
"Do you mean TO say you have been out all night?"
"All night, as you say, sir. 1 have been to the
telegraph and the police Office and Mr. MaceWen's
o, mad my hands full" said Alexander -
"ve a pes SAID the father You think
81 do not see that have much to gain in bring.
| ing back my elder BROTHER" returned Alexander
swell, WELL will go into this after br eaKiasI,"
81 am sorry about the table," said the son.
"The table Is small matter; think nothing OF
| that" said the father.
| 'It's another example," continued the son. .sof
the awkwardness OF man having no money Of
his own. II had proper allowance ike othsr
fellows Of my age, THIS would have been quite un-
"a proper allowancei" repeated his father. in
tones OF bilghtea sarcasm: for the expression was
money Tor Sny proper purns never grudged you
mo doubt, no doubt, said Alexander .but then
you sec you aren't anyways on The SPOT To have the
thing explained to you. Last night for in
/ stance"
"YOu could have Weakened me last night inter.
| rupted his father.
| twas It not some similar affair that nrst Oot
John into mess?" asked the son, skillfully eyad-
| ing the point ~'"N
But the father was not less adroit "And prav
Sir how did you come to go out OF the hOuse?n he
asked. ~
u forgot to lock the door, it seems,n replied
Alexander f
~ have had cause to complain Of that too often, y
said Mr.. Nicholson "But still do not understand
| Did you keep the servants up?"
| ~ propose to 60 into all that at length after
| breakfast" returned Alexander 'sThere is the
hali-hour going; we must not keep Miss Mackenzie
| waiting"
And greatly daring, he opened the door.
| Even Alexander, who, It must have been per
celved, was on terms OF comparative freedom with
| his parent; even Alexander had never herora
dared to cut short an interview in this hhanded
fashion. But the truth Is the very mass Of his son,s
delnquenctes daunted the old gentlemen. He we :;
like the man with the cart OF apples-thIs was he
yOnd him! That Alexander should have snoiei
his table, taken his money, stayed out all night.
and then c00lly acknowledged all was Something
| undreamed OF In the NlchOlsonian philOsoDhy and
| transcribed comment. The return OF the CHANCE
which the old gentleman sun carried In his hand
had been feature OF imposing 1mpudence: it had
dealt him staggering blow. Then there was the
reference to johns original fiight-a subject which
| he always kept res01tely curtained in his own
| mind; for he was o man who loved to nave made
| no mistakes and when he feared he might have
| made one kept the papers sealed. In view al
| all these SURPRISES ana reminders ma